On Sept. 6, the Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hosted the Sunshine State Awards at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale. The contest recognizes the excellence in writing, photography and design in both professional and college media.
Among the awardees was Cortney Danielle Moore, a hospitality reporter at the South Florida Business Journal who won two awards. Moore described the recognition as validating the hard work and long hours that go into covering complex stories with impact.
Florida International University also had a strong presence at the ceremony. Samantha Gutiérrez earned the title of “College Journalist of the Year,” a recognition that underscored the promise and talent emerging from FIU’s journalism program. Dawn Boothe, Luz González, Stefanny Tenia and Paola Sirignano won first place in the Student Podcast category for their piece, “Deadly Cost.”
The event also highlighted the strength of FIU’s Spanish-Language Journalism master’s program. Even though she could not attend the ceremony, Kerelyne Escobar earned first place for Best Student Work, a category where she competed alongside her classmates Jerónimo Mura, Mario Ojeda, Carlos Ortiz and Jazmine Santillana, who were recognized as finalists in Spot News Reporting.
The Sunshine State Awards celebrated the best in Florida journalism and underscored the creativity of the profession. From seasoned professionals to aspiring students, the evening was a powerful reminder that strong storytelling continues to shape communities and inspire future generations of journalists.
